Re: Ego elimination strategies?

On May 31, 11:32 am, David Raleigh Arnold <d...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Scott Daughtrey wrote:
On Thu, 31 May 2007 04:53:51 GMT, "Alain Reiher" <rei...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"Jackson K. Eskew" <jacksones...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1180580175.334690.271640@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Those of us who play mostly in isolation are prone to deceiving
ourselves about the quality of our playing.

Speak for yourself.

opportunities for constant feedback and humiliation that a student
in the USC guitar program, for instance,

The problem that you may run into with playing with or for others is
that very often others have their own different agenda. You have many
examples right here in this NG. The worst case is the troll who is here
only to "throw rocks."

The most humbling (*not* humiliating) thing that you can do is to
record yourself and listen to the recording, but that sort of
practice is very time consuming.

Humiliation is never a good thing. Humility is, and so would
humbleness be if there were such a word.

The correct path, IMO, is to cultivate your concentration by listening
to yourself painstakingly. That is analogous to where Buddhist "right
concentration" and "right meditation" meet, in "mindfulness of
breathing." The analogy lies in the fact that you are both playing and
listening at the same time rather than trying to do one or the other
exclusively. One thing that can help a lot with that, back here in the
musical realm, is to play more easy and very easy music and to put every
smidgeon of feeling and expression you can muster into it. It is easier
to listen to yourself if you are playing something simple and easy to
execute. Do it for a while and you will become good at it. Most things
should sound just as good with a metronome as without.

This advice is usually taken to mean that you should not work on pieces
too difficult for you. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You
should always be working on music which is too difficult also. You can
play things which are way over your head if you put the time and effort
into them. How are you to keep track of the limits of your capabilities
if you do not test them? You just have to be practical and selective.

Don't trash the rhythm. Find the accents and phrasing and play with
clarity, precision, dynamics, the whole nine yards.

This idea that expression means trashing the rhythm is prevalent. The
best antidote, IMO, is not jazz. Jazz is also very good for the
purpose, but best of all is Siguiriyas, the epitome of cante jondo.
There you have profoundly expressive and emotional music without any
melody or harmony worthy of the name, so that its affect must come
almost entirely from the rhythm without rubato or any such distortions.

Conga is good too, but it is harder to associate with guitar playing.
Not to say that it is without its own advantages.

Does an isolated Buddhist have to play classical guitar?
Ego elimination is a myth ...

Myths exist only because they have, or once had, meaning.

Here's a very easy one: What is/was the meaning of Yggdrasil?

daveA

--
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DaveA,

The most humbling (*not* humiliating) thing that you can do is to
record yourself and listen to the recording, but that sort of
practice is very time consuming.


It's time consuming using a computer. One cheap way is to buy the
cassette 4-track boxes for $99. Musician's Friend and Zzounds usually
throw in a so-so but usable dynamic mic.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TASMFP01
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOSX12

I spent money on computer software, 2 Rode NT3 condensor mics,
AudioBuddy preamp and all kinds of other crap, but it is a waste of
time just setting up everything.

The solution I use now cost a few bucks but it is really dumbed down
simple: An Edirol R1 (most expensive item - $440, and an Audio
Technica Pro 24 stereo mic ($70 new). In fact, a used digital/mp3
recorder with built-in mics is simpler.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZOMH4 - $299.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZOMPS04 - $150

I'd say try Ebay but most of the sellers there now the same as the old
flea market peddlers selling crap. Most used electronic items are
sold "as-is". If it is a private owner without hundreds of items
listed and a "storefront" you might get a deal on a working digital
recorder. My EBAY audio Technica Pro 24 mic arrived with cut wires to
the left channel and the right channel wires bare but connected ( I
fixed it - I'm handy.) The seller said tough, you bought it "as-is".

Ed S.

.

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